Americans' perfect record snapped in Japan

• by Soccer America , Jun 22, 2012

[U.S. UNDER-20 WOMEN] The U.S. under-20 women’s national team split two games with Japan on its acclimation trip to Japan, site of the 2012 Under-20 Women's World Cup. Steve Swanson's Americans suffered their first loss of the year after 11 wins when they dropped a 1-0 decision to Japan, then turned around to win, 2-1, on goals from forwards Maya Hayes and Chioma Ubogagu.

In the first game that was played in front of more than 2,000 fans at Nagai Stadium, the Japan goal came in the 81st minute when a shot from outside the penalty area bounced off the crossbar and fell to an open Yoko Tanaka, who finished well to give her team th win.

The second match was held at the J-Green Sakai National Training Center.

Hayes’ goal shortly before halftime was her 12th career international goal.

The USA clinched the game in the 71st minute when Ubogagu smashed a first-time half-volley into the upper corner for her eighth career U-20 goal.

The Americans will have one more  training camp in July in Florida before before returning to Japan for the U-20 Women’s World Cup.

June 20 in Osaka
Japan 0 USA 2. Goals: Hayes 41, Ubogagu 71.
USA -- Heaberlin; Dunn, Johnston, Roccaro, Pathman (Amack, 72), Killion (Laddish, 63), DiBernardo (Mewis, 46), Brian (Meier, 82), Hayes, Stengel (Horan, 63), Ohai (Ubogagu, 46).

June 17 in Osaka
Japan 1 USA 0. Goal: Tanaka 81.
USA -- Heaberlin; Dunn  Amack, 75), Johnston, Roccaro, Pathman, Killion (Laddish, 69), DiBernardo, Brian (Mewis, 62), Horan, Stengel (Hayes, 46), Ohai (Ubogagu, 46).